Apparatus for use in connection with bottles containing a gaseous fluid under pressure



July 19, 1938, J. G. MEJEAN APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH BOTTLES CONTAINING A GASEOUS FLUID UNDER PRESSURE Filed Sept. 16, 1936 v flz t ozyzeys. HJ AQW Patented July 19, 1938 APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH BOTTLES CONTAINING A GASEOUS FLUID UNDER PRESSURE Jacques Gustave Mjean, Chatou, France, as-

signor to Socit Bronzavia, Courbevoie (Seine), France, a society of France Application September 16, 1936, Serial No. 101,182 In Belgium September 20, 1935 10 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for use in connection with bottles containing a gaseous fluid under-pressure. It is more especially, although not exclusively, concerned with oxygen inhalers such as those with which aircraft pilots are to be equipped for flying at very high altitudes.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the kind above referred to which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than inhalers made up to this time, especially from the point of View of the space occupied by the apparatus and the weight there of. Y

The essential feature of the present invention consists in delivering the compressed gas from the bottles or tanks of apparatus of this kind, by fitting said bottles or tanks with a pressure regulating device arranged in such manner that the gas is capable of flowing automatically through said device when the end of the conduit or tube through which the expanded gas is led to the place where it is to be used, is. secured to said pressure regulating device, for instance by screwing said conduit or tube in place on saiddevice.

Another feature of the present invention concerns especially inhaling apparatus such as those to be used by pilots or passengers of aircrafts and consists in providing on the one hand a bottle of a light alloy, for instance hooped aluminum, containing a certain reserve of oxygen, and adapted to be constantly carried by said pilot or passengers, and, on the other hand, a pressure regulating device fixed to said bottleor tank, and to which the feed conduit of a respiratory mask can be fitted, said pressure regulating device being preferably arranged as above explained, whereby said conduit is always, under pressure, once it has been fitted onto the pressure regulating device, and thepilot needs only to open a valve, easy toreachfifor producing the delivery of the gas.

Still another feature of the present invention consists in providing said bottle or tank with two orifices, preferably located at opposite ends of said bottle or tank, these orifices serving respectively for discharging the gas and for refilling the bottle or tank. 7 r

Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter. described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an axial sectional view of the portion of an oxygen inhaler according to the present invention including the bottle or tank, the pressure regulating device, and the feed tube or conduit leading to the mask;

, Fig, 2 is an elevational view corresponding to .Fig. 1.

In the following description, the invention will be more especially described as applied to an oxygen inhaling apparatus intended to permit a pilot or a passenger of an airplane to fly at a high altitude for a predetermined period of time.

This apparatus includes essentially an oxygen or compressed air bottle or tank, made of a metal which is both light and strong, in such manner that, while containing a reserve sufficient for permitting breathing at a high level for a sufficient time (say for instance one hour), its weight is relatively light, and it can therefore be carried by the person using the apparatus, through suitable means, on the chest or on the back, or again on the side.

On this bottle or tank, I fit a pressure regulating device arranged in such manner that when said device is fixed, for instance by screwing, to the feed conduit conveying the gas to be breathed to the respiratory mask, this automatically produces the flow of the gas through the pressure regulating device which is normally closed. I

Such an arrangement therefore permits of providing the pilot or passenger with a reserve of oxygen which he carries continuously upon himself and which he may use whenever it is necessary to do so.

Theapparatus may, for instance, be made in the following manner:

Concerning first, the bottle or tank proper designated by reference character I, I may make it of an aluminum alloy, such for instance as duralumin, the strength of which is preferably improved by means of a steel wire hooping in a manner known per se.

According to another feature of the invention, instead of providing said bottle, in the usual manner, with a single orifice or nozzle through which it is also refilled, I provide said bottle or tank with two nozzles, preferably located at opposite ends thereof, respectively, whereby, one of these nozzles, marked by reference character 2, is adapted to receive the pressure regulating de vice, while the other one (not visible in the drawings) is adapted to receive a tube or pipe through which it can be refilled.

Concerning now the pressure regulating device,

itwincludes at least one expansion stage, said pressure regulating device being for instance} of the type including a diaphragm 3 coacting with being ensured through .a valve opening or throttled orifice 'I which may be adjustable.

The casing'at the inside of which the above mentioned parts are secured is provided, on the one hand, With an extension 8 adapted to be screwed to the bottle ortank, engaging for instance into nozzle 2, and, on the other hand, with an outlet nozzle 9 to which may be secured, preferably also by screwing, a connecting or coupling element I carried by the correspondin'g'end of tube II leading to the mask, said connecting or coupling element being, for instance, provided for this purpose with a tubular part I2 capable of being screwed inside nozzle '9. H 1

For controlling th 1 gas inflow into the pressure regulating device by screwing couplingelement I0 in place thereon, 1 cause said element to act either upon a special valve device controlling the feed of gasto the pressure relief device, or, according to theembodiment shown by the drawings,'di rectly upon the pressure regulating device. For instance, as long as the couplingelement is not screwed in position, thediaphr'agm 4 is kept in a position where it remains closed, but as soon as the coupling elementis screwed into position it automatically moves the, diaphragm in the opening direction with respectto the valve. 7

For instance, as shown by the drawings, I interpose spring I3 between the diaphragm or a piece I4 rigid therewith, and a thrust collar I5 against which the extended tubular portion] Z'of coupling element 7 I0 isapplied when'said coupling is the parts in such manner that, when the coupling element is not in position, collar I5 assumes a disengaged position in which the diaphragm does not bear upon the valve. The screwing of the coupling produces, through the displac'em'entof said collar, the compression of the spring and the opening of the valve. V j

Preferably,'the casing containing the. various parts above referred to is arrangedrin such manner that it can easily be taken apart. For'jnstance, this casing consists of two pieces 'IBand II, arranged tobe screwed into each other,fwith the interposition of a packing element 26.

In piece I6, which carries element 8, there is screwed the element I8 in which valve '4 is movableagainst the action of a 's'pring I9.-

1 Before this valve, I may provide a filtering and braking device, consisting for instance of a mass of brass wire, as shown at 20. M

Furthermore, in combination 'with 'oha'mber 5,

piece IB may be provided with-a safety device preventing excess pressures from being produced .in said chamber. 'This safety device consists for instance of a plurality ofsilver sheetsZI disposed across a conduit .22ieading toixthe'iatmosphere,

' .so that an excess of pressure in chamber 5 causes said sheets to bep'erforaltd; ,1

In piece I'Lthere is for instance secured the diaphragm 3, by means of a tightening'collar 23 and of coursethis piece I! is provided with a municating with tube II. Finally, a packing" This diaphragm separates from each other 7 member 2'! is provided between coupling member ID and nozzle 9.

Advantageously, the apparatus will be com pleted by means for adjusting the pressure after expansion of the gas through the pressure regulating device. Such means may be of different kinds. I may act, for instance, either upon the tension of springIS, or on valve opening I, or as shown bythe drawings, on the respective positions of diaphragm 3 and valve 4, for instance by means of adjusting screw 28, which is screwed in piece I4 and can easily be reached through the bore of nozzle9. These means may be designated so that they can be controlled from the outside.

Finally concerning the feed conduit I I, through V which the gas is led to the mask, it is preferably provided with a valve which can easily be reached, and. which may be located for instance within the part of said; conduit that passes along-the chest'of the person making use of the apparatus.

'Whatever be the specific arrangement of the partsfof the apparatus, said apparatus can be fitted on the pilot o"r passenger before he takes ofi, coupling element- Ili being screwedupon'the pressure regulating device, Thefeed conduit II is thus constantly fed with gas at a predetermined pressure, for instance 1 kg, and it sufiices,-.for

the pilot or passenger, when, during the fiight,.

provided with pressure regulating devices of the V usual type, -With these apparatus, if thebottle or tank had to b'e'carried by the pilot or passenger, the latter would be compelled, in order'to permit oxygen to 're'aohthe conduit feedingthe mask, to operate the valve of the pressure regulating device, which would be awkward, especially when the bottle or tank is carried on the back of the pilot or passenger. A

On the contrary, the apparatus according to the present invention is always ready to deliver fluid, through the mere operation of the valve disposed in conduit II.' V e a This apparatus is therefore particularly well adapted for pilots o'f fighting planes, although it may be applied to manyother cases. I

The i apparatus according to the invention is also applicable in connection with the use-of parachutes, so as to permit a person to breath when at veryhigh altitudes. In this application,

the valve controlling theflowthrough conduit I I might be disposed =c1ose to t'h co ntrol device of theparachuteior it might even be combined with.

said control device.

or tank. v 1' In a general mannenwhile I have, in the above descriptiom'disclosed what I deem to bepractical and efiicient embodimentslo the present invention, it should be 'welliunderstood that I do. not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts wi thout departing from the principle of the present invention as compre hended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for use in connection with a container of gaseous fluid under pressure, which comprises, in combination, a pressure regulating device adapted to be secured to said container and comprising valve means, a conduit adapted to be detachably connected to the outlet of said pressure regulating device, and resilient means operated by securing said conduit to said outlet, for resiliently pressing upon and opening said valve means. 7

2. An apparatus for use in connection with a container of a gaseous fluid under pressure, which comprises, in combination, a pressure regulating device adapted to be secured to said container and including an outlet for the expanded gas having flown therethrough, a conduit adapted to be screwed to said outlet, valve means normally adapted to stop the flow of gaseous fluid from said container to said pressure regulating device, and resilient means operated by screwing said conduit in place on said outlet member for resiliently pressing upon and opening said valve means and maintaining said means in the open position at least at normal pressure of said gaseous fluid.

3. An apparatus for use in connection with a container of gaseous fluid under pressure comprising a casing, a valve within said casing, a diaphragm within said casing for regulating the gas pressure therein, a spring acting upon said diaphragm and against said gas pressure, and means for increasing the pressure of said spring for opening said valve and for regulating the flow of gas passing through said valve.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a conduit for conveying the gas which has passed through said valve to a place where it is used, said means for increasing the spring pressure comprising an element for coupling said conduit to said casing whereby said valve is converted from a cut-off valve to a pressure-regulating valve by actuation of said coupling element.

5. An apparatus for use in connection with a container of gaseous fluid under pressure comprising a casing, a valve within said casing, a diaphragm within said casing for regulating the gas pressure therein, a spring acting upon said diaphragm and against said gas pressure, a conduit for conveying the gas which has passed through said valve to a place where it is used,

means for increasing the pressure of said spring for opening said valve and for regulating the flow of gas passing through said valve, said means comprising an element for coupling said conduit to said casing, said element having an extension, a member bearing upon one end of said spring, said extension displacing said bearing member when said coupling element is secured to said casing.

6. An apparatus for use in connection with a container of gaseous fluid under pressure comprising a casing consisting of two parts, one being screwed into the other, a valve secured within one part of said casing, an element for connecting said casing to said container and secured to said first part of said casing, a diaphragm secured to the other part of said casing for regulating the gas pressure within said casing, a spring acting upon said diaphragm and against said gas pressure, a conduit for conveying the gas which has passerd through said valve to a place where it is used, means for increasing the pressure of said spring for opening said valve and for regulating the flow of gas passing through said valve, said means comprising an element for coupling said conduit to said second part of the casing.

'7. An apparatus according to claim 3 further including safety means, said means comprising a conduit secured to said casing and connecting the inside thereof with the atmosphere, and a diaphragm closing said conduit, the thickness of said diaphragm being such that it is ruptured when the gas pressure within said casing exceeds a predetermined limit.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which the position of said diaphragm within said casing is controlled in accordance with the relative position of said valve.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising means for adjusting the position of the diaphragm relative to said valve.

10. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising means for adjusting the position of the diaphragm relative to said valve, said last means comprising an adjusting screw connecting said diaphragm with said valves.

JACQUES GUSTAVE 'MEJEAN. 

